Carboxypeptidase A4 (CPA4)

Carboxypeptidase A4 is a member of the carboxypeptidase A/B subfamily, and it is located in a cluster with three other family members on chromosome 7. Carboxypeptidases are zinc-containing exopeptidases that catalyze the release of carboxy-terminal amino acids, and are synthesized as zymogens that are activated by proteolytic cleavage. This gene could be involved in the histone hyperacetylation pathway. It is imprinted and may be a strong candidate gene for prostate cancer aggressiveness. The deduced 421-amino acid CPA4 protein contains 2 zinc-binding signature domains of metallocarboxypeptidases and a 16-amino acid N-terminal signal peptide. The protein shares 63% and 61% sequence identity with human and rat CPA2, respectively.